HIMALAYAN MONAL PHEASANT SIZE SKIN

The founder of Bhutan Birdlife Society, Tshering Tobgay said that in recent years, the society had observed increasing number of bird species being hunted in different parts of the country. Monal pheasant is one among the 23 animals listed under the ‘totally protected animals list’ in the Forest and Nature Conservation Act 1995. Meanwhile, the letter from forest department stated that the act is an offence and defaulters would be dealt according to the Forest and Nature Conservation Act 1995.Ĭhapter three (10) of the Act states: “The hunting, fishing, taking, removing, destroying, poisoning or injuring any wildlife, or setting traps or snares are prohibited in the government reserved forests.” “It is a future concern but if they are found defaulting, we will deal according to the tourism rules and regulations.” However, TCB Director General Dorji Dhradhul said that it was a cautionary note from the forest department and is not blaming the guides and their team. Wherever there are construction or renovation works, the labourers hunt down the animals,” he said. “Various birds are poached in that manner. In Thimphu, Himalayan monals are usually found feeding nearby monasteries such as Phajoding and Chari.Īnother guide said that while on tour to Phajoding, he saw construction workers in the monastery setting traps. The females are dull in color with the upper parts covered with dark brownish-black feathers. Adult male possess a long crest and are feathered with multicolored plumages throughout their body. Monal pheasants are brightly coloured birds. There is a misunderstanding,” Rinzin Wangchuk said. “Few groups or individuals might have done it but it is not right to blame the tourism industry. A trekking guide, Rinzin Wangchuk said that he had been trekking through different parts of the country for many years and he didn’t come across such incidents. However, some of the trekking guides said the claim was baseless. TCB then issued a circular to the Guides Association of Bhutan (GAB), stating the members of GAB should be informed about the unlawful activities. It raised the question of species survival if the trend continues, according to the officials. The exotic bird, found within a range of 3,180 to 4,775 metres above sea level was poached for its meat and was served to trekking tourists. After six months the young starts searching for food on their own.Few days ago, the forest department wrote to the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) claiming that Himalayan monal, a sub-alpine pheasant species in the country have come under harm from poachers, mostly cooks and porters on trekking tours. Eggs are incubated by female for around 26 to 29 days and the male stands guard throughout the incubation period. Two to five numbers of eggs are usually laid by her, which are white (or dull/ muddy white), with brown spots and paler appearance. Later she builds a simple nest in the ground. Monal uses different types of call to communicate with other birds of group/ family. The bird attains sexual maturity between one to two years of age. After the acceptance by female they start mating. Males generally become aggressive in the mating season. Males start calling throughout the day and use body displays to attract females, bobbing the head-crest and fanning their tail feathers. They are seen in pairs during this period. Their inhabitant territory can be easily identified by the holes and dug up area created by Monal breeds only once in a year in the month of April to August. They are great diggers and use their heavy beak not only for foraging throughout the day for tubers, seeds and insects but also for satisfying their digging urge. The lower tail coverts of females are white, marked with black and rufous. Their upper parts are covered with spotted brownish-black feathers. The under parts of female is light greyish brown with white stick lines. Females have greyish brown upper-parts with white stick lines and black spots. Male Monal is more beautiful, stunning in color and large in size. The female Himalayan Monal looks completely different from the male. The tail feathers of the male are uniformly rufous which becomes darker towards the tips. The tail feathers are uniformly rufous (reddish brown in colour) being darker towards the tips.

HIMALAYAN MONAL PHEASANT SIZE SKIN

They have bare patch of turquoise blue skin around the eye. The head is bright green, and the males have a metallic-green crest on top of their heads. The chestnut brown/ copper coloured tail, light brown wings and a white rump is visible in flight. The nape is a bright yellow patch which forms the top edge of the bluish black wings and the purplish black back.

They have a white patch of feathers underneath the base of their tail. Male Himalayan Monal has bright colourful combination of blue, green, purple, light yellow, brown, black and red feathers.

Himalayan monal pheasant size